It is with great sadness that we inform you of the death of Bishop
Joseph Angelo Grech, Bishop of Sandhurst, Victoria, at the age of 62.
Bishop
Joe Grech took ill on 22 December with a recurrence of a blood
disorder. His condition deteriorated on Christmas Day, and he died
peacefully in St Vincent’s Private Hospital Melbourne with Archbishop
Mark Coleridge and Fr Maurizio Pettena CS, as well as family members and
close friends at his side.
Maltese-born Bishop Joseph
Angelo Grech was born in 1948 and ordained to the priesthood in 1974. He
was installed as the sixth Bishop of Sandhurst on 27 April 2001.
President
of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference Archbishop Philip Wilson
today paid tribute to Bishop Joe as an exceptional pastor.
“My
brother Bishops and I are deeply saddened by the death of Bishop Joe
Grech. Bishop Joe has been a wonderful member of the Episcopal
Conference. He has made a tremendous contribution to the Church in
Australia because of his deep faith and spirituality, which has been
shown especially in the zeal with which he dealt with issues of migrants
and refugees and his outreach to young people. He has also shown a
wonderful support and commitment to Charismatic prayer groups in this
country”, he said.
Bishop Joe’s commitment to the people
of the Diocese of Sandhurst was that of a man with a deep love for
humanity and a great enthusiasm for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Bishop
Joe is quoted as saying: “I love Jesus Christ and want everyone to have
the same opportunities to know and love him as I do.”
Bishop
Joe was the Bishops’ delegate for Youth and Young Adults and for
Migrants and Refugees, and he served in these roles with joy and a deep
compassion.
Bishop Joe frequently spoke out on the
treatment of asylum seekers and refugees in Australia, and he matched
these words with pastoral action, through his involvement in the
establishment of services in remote detention centres.
Young
people around Australia will feel particularly keenly the loss of
Bishop Joe whose enthusiastic manner, unique and charismatic style of
preaching and gentle pastoral sensibility helped many young people
encounter the spirit of Jesus Christ.
Further details and funeral arrangements will be provided as they come to hand.
Eternal rest grant unto him and may perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace.
SIC: ACC/AUS